Following outrage over President Trump’s immigration policy and “crack down” on undocumented immigrants, thousands in Santa Barbara as well as nationally have started conducting protests. One of said protests being the nationally recognized “Day Without Immigrants.” The day spread throughout social media till February third when schools saw decline in attendance and workplaces closed down due to strike.
San Marcos High school’s attendance office reports saw three times as many absences on the day although most were excused and few who called out admitted to being absent in solidarity of Day Without Immigrants.
“I stayed home, I did not use any technology whatsoever, I didn’t even attend my after school programs,” said San Marcos sophomore Cecilia Botello Carrera. When asked what this day meant for her community she said, “They want us out of this country so we wanted to show them what a day without immigrants would go.”
According to Noozhawk Santa Barbara Unified School district reported an overall 10% decrease in attendance and Goleta Unified School district saw a 16% decrease. However these numbers do not seem entirely representative of power and meaning that the strike might have had. Ethnic studies teacher Ms. Lorenzano, supposedly had more than half of her class missing in all three periods that she taught. “Seeing these students strike means that they feel like their opinion is being heard, and they are supporting their community, even though it’s just one day,” said Lorenzano
Many businesses had to shut down for the day atop the decline in school attendance. Among them being Los Agaves and its family restaurants. “To honor ‘A Day Without Immigrants,’ all Los Agaves Group restaurants are closed today to support our employees participating in the protest, and to demonstrate solidarity from the entire Los Agaves team,” they said on social media. “Thank you. We will be open again tomorrow as usual in all locations.” All three Los Arroyos restaurants in town shut down for the day as well, also making an announcement on their social media.
A day without immigrants has not been the only protest to happen in town though. On Friday, January 31st Hundreds gathered around the Milpas roundabout in anger over recent Immigration andCustom Enforcement (ICE) activity in town. Originally just around 50 people, the showing quickly resulted in sidewalks packed with chanting people. Organizers were handing out flyers to drivers going by and listing rights in case of an ICE encounter.
Another even more recent display of civil disobedience took place Friday, February seventh when a large group of flag and signs bearing people marched up State Street through Santa Barbara’s Annual Film Festival. With a new movie premiering that night starring multiple big names, it was the most well-attended event of the night. Despite these numbers, protesters marched onward, chanting, “No one is illegal”, as they made their way.
This issue stretches much further than just Santa Barbara. Protests against recent ICE raids and deportations continued for a second day in downtown Los Angeles, with demonstrators marching through the streets and blocking intersections. The protest, part of the nationwide “A Day Without Immigrants” movement, drew around 1,000 people by early afternoon, leading police to block freeway ramps to prevent disruptions.On Sunday, a similar protest shut down the 101 Freeway for hours. By Monday evening, the LAPD declared the gathering unlawful after clashes erupted, with police alleging that protesters threw bottles and rocks, while demonstrators claimed officers initiated the conflict. Nearly 200 people were detained, with one arrested for firearm possession. A brief freeway takeover occurred but was quickly dispersed. Meanwhile, protests in San Bernardino also led to police intervention with teargas.
Immigrants express discontent with Donald Trump due to several policies and actions. His administration’s family separation policy at the U.S.-Mexico border led to widespread criticism for causing emotional trauma among separated families. The travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries was perceived as discriminatory, affecting many immigrants. Plans to expand immigrant detention at Guantánamo Bay raised human rights concerns. Additionally, Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, including referring to immigrants as criminals, has been viewed as fostering xenophobia. These factors contribute to the dissatisfaction among immigrant communities toward Trump’s policies and statements.
It is clear that the people of Santa Barbara, students and adults alike, are willing to take a stand for what they believe in. Regardless of whatever feelings recent government activities might be sparking inside you, it is important to remember to remain peaceful and make sure your forms of protest remain protected and constitutional under the First Amendment. Scan the QR code below to make sure that you know your rights in case of an ICE encounter. It is also important to remember your first amendment rights which is as follows, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
